Composite integrated circuits and methods for wireless interactions therewith

ABSTRACT

An integrated circuit (IC) includes a first circuit layer that includes a first wireless power transfer (WPT) device, a first chip electrically connected to the first circuit layer, and a first tracking circuit disposed in the first chip. The first WPT device may be configured to extract energy from an electromagnetic signal and provide an output voltage. The first tracking circuit may be powered by the output voltage of the first WPT device and may output tracking data in response to an instruction extracted from the electromagnetic signal.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/220,514 filed on Dec. 14, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 15/589,435 filed on May 8, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No.10,164,480, issued Dec. 25, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/804,319 filed on Jul. 20, 2015, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,653,927, issued May 16, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application Ser. No. 13/572,533, filed Aug. 10, 2012, now U.S. Pat.No. 9,086,452, issued Jul. 21, 2015, each of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional integrated circuit(3DIC) and a method for an information access of the 3DIC, includingcomposite integrated circuits and methods for wireless interactions withcomposite integrated circuits.

BACKGROUND

To access an information stored in a chip, conventionally, it requiresextra power supplied and a sophisticated installation on tester, forexample a probing card (or any other equipment) which may causeinconvenience. In addition, a manual touch or a machine contact wouldinduce electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage for the chip.

Tracking information through controlled collapse chip connection(C4)/through substrate via (TSV) increases area penalty (extra layout ofpower/ground/signals on C4/TSV), and once one of the connections fails,the information is unreadable.

3DIC comprises a plurality of stacked chips provided from differentcompanies or processes, and needs complete information recorded andbeing freely written/read, and the complete information comprises:company information, wafer tracking information (e.g., fabrication,process, part name and die-location), chip specification (testcondition/setup and/or test results/parameters), and testing execution.Thus, there is a need to solve the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a method forwireless information access in a three-dimensional integrated circuit(3DIC) includes steps of providing plural stacked chips including awireless device, an information and a transmitting/receiving circuit;and accessing wirelessly the information via the wireless device and thetransmitting/receiving circuit during a packaging process for the pluralstacked chips.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a testingmethod comprises steps of: providing a semiconductor structure having awireless chip; wirelessly receiving a power by the wireless chip; andusing the power to test the semiconductor structure.

In accordance with one more aspect of the present disclosure, a 3DICcomprises a semiconductor structure, and a wireless power device (WPD)formed on the semiconductor structure for wirelessly receiving a powerfor operating a function selected from a group consisting of probing thesemiconductor structure, testing the semiconductor structure andaccessing a first information from the semiconductor structure.

The present disclosure may best be understood through the followingdescriptions with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 3DIC stacking, a server, a cloudfoundry and a handy reader according to the first embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for a wireless information access ofa 3DIC stacking according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for a wireless information access ofa 3DIC stacking according to the third embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power transfer (WPT) and atag having an RF/analog front end, digital controller and a non-volatilememory (NVM) according to the fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5(a) is a schematic circuit diagram of two 3DIC stockings accordingto the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5(b) is a schematic circuit diagram of a 3DIC stacking according tothe sixth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5(c) is a schematic circuit diagram of a 3DIC stacking according tothe seventh embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5(d) is a schematic circuit diagram of a 3DIC stacking according tothe eighth embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a composite integrated circuit, inaccordance with some embodiments;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a tracking circuit, in accordance withsome embodiments;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system, inaccordance with some embodiments; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method of accessing a semiconductorstructure, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure will be described with respect to particularembodiments and with reference to certain drawings, but the disclosureis not limited thereto but is only limited by the claims. The drawingsdescribed are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, thesize of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scalefor illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions donot necessarily correspond to actual reductions to practice.

The present disclosure provides a 3DIC stacking, having a wireless powerdevice (WPD) for wirelessly receiving a power for operating a functionselected from a group consisting of probing the semiconductor structure,testing the semiconductor structure and accessing an information fromthe semiconductor structure, and a method thereof to avoid the ESDdamage and the area penalty.

The present disclosure relates to a wireless tracking implement on a3DIC stacking, and provides a chip information anywhere without anyequipment installation. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a 3DICstacking, a server, a cloud foundry and a handy reader according to thefirst embodiment of the present disclosure. The configuration of FIG. 1is set up for wirelessly accessing the information contained in a 3DICstacking. The 3DIC stacking and the server are wirelessly connected,there are two antennas shown in FIG. 1 too, where one antenna is for the3DIC stacking and the other is for the server, and the 3DIC stacking andthe handy reader are also wirelessly connected. However, the server andthe cloud foundry are connected by a connection line, and so are thecloud foundry and the handy reader. The 3DIC stacking includes the chips(A, B, C and D) to be wirelessly accessed, which contains requiredinformation such as chip manufacturer's information, wafer trackinginformation, chip spec. and test execution information, and a radiofrequency circuit (RF) for transmitting/receiving a radio frequencysignal to/from the antenna of the 3DIC stacking. The Handy reader is anelectronic book, being a tool for a user to read/write an informationfrom/to the 3DIC stacking. The Cloud Foundry is an open platform as aservice (also known as an open source cloud computing platform as aservice (PaaS) software developed by VMware released under the terms ofthe Apache License 2.0). The server is a physical computer (a computerhardware system) dedicated to running one or more client-server services(as a host), to serve the needs of users of the other computers(clients) on the network. The server could be an Automatic or AutomatedTest Equipment (ATE), or the like. Each antenna is an electrical devicewhich converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. Eachthe antenna is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver.In transmission, a radio transmitter applies an oscillating radiofrequency electric current to the antenna's terminals, and the antennaradiates the energy from the current as electromagnetic waves (radiowaves). In reception, an antenna intercepts some of the power of anelectromagnetic wave in order to produce a tiny voltage at its terminalsthat is applied to a receiver to be amplified. Each the antenna can beused for both transmitting and receiving. There are two connectionlines, relatively between the Handy reader and the Cloud Foundry, andbetween the Cloud Foundry and the server, such that the requiredinformation related to the 3DIC stacking is quickly provided to (theuser of) the Handy reader via the Cloud Foundry and the server in someembodiments. In some other embodiments, the user of the Handy readersends out an instruction regarding the access of the informationcontained in the 3DIC stacking (e.g., reading an information) from theHandy reader via the antenna of the 3DIC stacking to the 3DIC stacking,and the 3DIC stacking reacts to provide a reply through the antenna ofthe 3DIC stacking, the antenna connected to the server, the server, theCloud Foundry to the Handy reader such that the information contained inthe 3DIC stacking is provided to (the user of) the Handy Reader. In someother embodiments, the user of the Handy reader sends out instructionsregarding the access of the information contained in the 3DIC stacking(e.g., writing an information) from the Handy reader to the antenna ofthe 3DIC stacking and to the Cloud Foundry such that the information tobe written could be sent to the 3DIC stacking through the Cloud foundry,the server, the antenna connected to the server, and the antenna of the3DIC stacking. In some other embodiments, the user of the Handy readersends out instructions regarding the access of the information containedin the 3DIC stacking (e.g., writing/reading an information) from theHandy reader to the antenna of the 3DIC stacking and receives theresponse of the 3DIC stacking from the antenna of the 3DIC stackingdirectly too.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method for a wireless information access ofa 3DIC stacking according to the second embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In the KGD (known good die) probing stage of the waferlevel, a conventional installation including a tester as aforementionedis involved. But in accordance with the present disclosure, in the KGS(known good stacking) probing stage of the wafer level, and in the KGStesting stage of the package level, no tester is required, and theinformation is accessed wirelessly through a configuration as shown inFIG. 1. Since the information is accessed wirelessly in the KGS probingstage of the water level and in the KGS testing stage of the packagelevel, and the wafer level installation for KGS as well as a power upsignal connection required in both of the conventional KGS probing stageof the wafer level and the conventional KGS testing stage of the packagelevel could be omitted. In the KGD probing stage of the wafer level, itperforms a wafer level installation for KGD and a power up signalconnection, and provides a write-in information (*1) for probing perdie. Since a conventional tester is used in the KGD probing stage of thewafer level, the power needs to be provided after the KGD is installedin the tester such that the write-in information (*1) for probing perdie could be proceeded when the power is turned on, in the wafer level,the KGS probing stage, it performs the 3DIC stacking process andprovides an ID identification access information (*2), which is anoptional step. In the package level, the KGS testing stage, it performsthe packaging process, provides the ID identification access information(*2), and executes the shipment, where (*1) means write-in ID isnecessary and writing/reading other data or testing are (is) optional,and (*2) means ID verification is necessary and writing/reading otherdata or testing are (is) optional. Since providing the ID identificationaccess information (*2) is an optional step, there might be threedifferent routes. The first one is from performing the stacking processto performing the packaging process, the second one is from performingthe stacking process to providing the ID identification accessinformation (*2) and then to performing the stacking process again, andthe third one is from performing stacking process to providing the IDidentification access information (*2) and then to performing thepackaging process. The wireless information access is performed throughembedded wireless chips.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for a wireless information access ofa 3DIC stacking according to the third embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 except that there is an extrastep of providing a stacking plan (*3) for selected dies betweenperforming a wafer level installation for KGD and performing a power upsignal connection, the stacking plan is provided for certain chipspurchased from other manufacturers or having no stacking plan at all,where (*3) indicates that the stacking plan of selected dies is decidedby testing results and products after the KGD testing is done. Thestacking plan is used to determine where these selected dies should bestacked on and whether a tracking die should be used. Similarly, since aconventional tester is used in the KGD probing stage of the wafer level,the power needs to be provided after the KGD is installed in the testeralso such that the write-in information (*1) for probing per die couldbe proceeded when the power is turned on as shown in FIG. 3. Referringto FIG. 3, since the information is accessed wirelessly in the KGSprobing stage of the wafer level and in the KGS testing stage of thepackage level, the wafer level installation for KGS as well as a powerup signal connection required in both of the conventional KGS probingstage of the wafer level and the conventional KGS testing stage of thepackage level could be omitted too. The wireless information access iseither performed through embedded wireless chips, or performed throughextra embedded wireless chips (for those chips without any radiofrequency (RF) circuit), which is accomplished via a configuration asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a wireless power transfer (WPT) and atag having an RF/analog front end, digital controller and a non-volatilememory (NVM) according to the fourth embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The tag functions as a controller/register, the RF/analogfront end performs all analog processing for DC power, receives signaldetection/demodulation, and transmits modulation, the digital controllerdecodes incoming data, responds to commands from the transmitter(reader), reads and writes to internal memory, and encodes and transmitsdata to the modulator included in the RE/analog front end, and the NVMis necessary for one-time or multi-time data storage.

The function block of WPT is used as power transfer interfacefunctioning as an antenna, the WPT can be made as an antenna, acapacitor, an inductor or any interface to receive power, and the WPTand the Tag are in the same chip or in two different stacked chips. Theconfiguration of the WPT in the first layer and the tag in the secondlayer as shown in FIG. 4 is used as an embedded wireless chip/IP in 3DICstacked chip to record information.

FIG. 5(a) is a schematic circuit diagram of two 3DIC stockings accordingto the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The first 3DICstacking located on the left-hand side has a bottom layer being one of apassive substrate or an active substrate with a plurality of C4 bumpsdisposed under the bottom layer of the first 3DIC stacking, and showsseparated WPT and Tag in different chips, wherein the first WPT isdisposed in the bottom layer, a first chip A has a tag disposed thereinand connected with the first WPT, a second chip A has a tag disposedtherein, and a chip B has a WPT disposed therein and connected to thetag of the second chip A. Also, the first 3DIC stacking includes a towerstructure with a chip A and a chip B, wherein the chip A is disposed onthe chip B and the chip B is disposed on the bottom layer. Furthermore,the first 3DIC stacking has a WPT and a Tag in one chip too, wherein thechip C having the WPT and the tag is disposed on the bottom layer.Lastly, the first 3DIC stacking also includes a nontracking circuitbeing a chip D disposed on the bottom layer and having no WPT/tag. Thesecond 3DIC stacking is located on the right-hand side, has a bottomlayer of E being a passive substrate or an active substrate, a chip Aand a chip B, the chip A is disposed on the chip B and the chip B isdisposed on the bottom layer.

FIG. 5(b) is a schematic circuit diagram of a 3DIC stacking according tothe sixth embodiment of the present disclosure. In FIG. 5(b), at leastone extra wireless chip (e.g., two tracking chips, wherein the first WPTis disposed in the bottom layer, being one of a passive substrate and anactive substrate, the first tracking chip has a tag disposed therein andconnected to the first WPT, and the second tracking chip has a secondWPT and a tag connected to the second. WPT therein) is utilized torecord information for chips/stacked chips without any RF circuit (e.g.,a first chip D and a second chip D and a chip E, wherein the first chipD is disposed on the bottom layer, the chip E is disposed on the secondchip D, and the second chip D is disposed on the bottom layer).

FIG. 5(c) is a schematic circuit diagram of a 3DIC stacking according tothe seventh embodiment of the present disclosure. It is desired to havea plurality of WPTs connecting to (at least) one tag for bettertransmitting/receiving operations. As shown in FIG. 5(c), there are thefirst and the second WPTs, WPT-1 and WPT-2, both disposed in the bottomlayer, being one of a passive and an active substrate, and connected toa first tag, Tag-1 disposed in a first chip A. There is a second tag,Tag-2, disposed in a first chip B, and WPT-2 and a third WPT, disposedin the bottom layer, are both connected to Tag-2. Also, a second chip Ahaving a fourth WPT is disposed on a second chip B having a third tagand a fifth WPT and disposed on the bottom layer. The fourth and thefifth WPTs are both connected to the third tag. Besides, there is a chipC having a sixth and a seventh WPTs and a fourth tag, and both of thesixth and the seventh WPTs are connected to the fourth tag. Thus, inFIG. 5(c), it shows at least one WPT is connected to one Tag for bettercommunication.

FIG. 5(d) is a schematic circuit diagram of a 3DIC stacking according tothe eighth embodiment of the present disclosure. It is desired to have(at least) one WPT connects to plurality of tags for parallel testingoperations. In FIG. 5(d), Tag-1 of a first chip A, disposed on thebottom layer being one of a passive substrate or an active substrate,and Tag-2 of a first chip B, disposed on the bottom layer, share a firstWPT disposed in the bottom layer for parallel testing. A second chip Ahaving a third tag is disposed on a second chip B having a fourth tagand a second WPT, and the third and the fourth tags share the secondWPT. And, two test blocks, the fifth and the sixth tags of chip-Cdisposed on the bottom layer, share a third WPT for block paralleltesting. There is also a fourth WPT disposed in the bottom layer andconnected to the third WPT.

EMBODIMENTS

There is a method for wireless information access in a three-dimensionalintegrated circuit (3DIC) provided in the present disclosure. Thisproposed method includes steps of:

providing plural stacked chips including a wireless device, aninformation and a transmitting/receiving circuit; and

accessing wirelessly the information via the wireless device and thetransmitting/receiving circuit during a packaging process for the pluralstacked chips. In this embodiment, the wireless device is a wirelesspower transfer device (WPTD).

There is a testing method proposed in the present disclosure. Thistesting method includes steps of:

providing a semiconductor structure having a wireless chip;

wirelessly receiving a power by the wireless chip; and

using the power to test the semiconductor structure. In this embodiment,the wireless chip is a wireless power transfer device (WPTD).

There is a 3DIC provided in the present disclosure. This 3DIC includes

a semiconductor structure, and

a wireless power device (WPD) formed on the semiconductor structure forwirelessly receiving a power for operating a function selected from agroup consisting of probing the semiconductor structure, testing thesemiconductor structure and accessing a first information from thesemiconductor structure. In this embodiment, the WPD is a wireless powertransfer device (WPTD).

According to the aforementioned descriptions, the present disclosureprovides a 3DIC having a wireless power device (WPD) for wirelesslyreceiving a power for operating a function selected from a groupconsisting of probing the semiconductor structure, testing thesemiconductor structure and accessing an information from thesemiconductor structure and a method thereof to avoid the ESD damage andthe area penalty so as to possess the nonobviousness and the novelty.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a composite integrated circuit (IC)600, in accordance with some embodiments. Composite IC 600 is asemiconductor structure that includes a first circuit layer 610, asecond circuit layer 620, and, in some embodiments, a third circuitlayer 630. Composite IC 600 also includes one or more wireless powerdevices (WPDs) 640 and one or more tracking circuits 650. One or moreWPDs 640 are electrically connected to one or more tracking circuits 650through interconnection structures 660.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 is a 3DIC stacking similar to a3DIC described above with respect to FIG. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), or 5(d). Insome embodiments, composite IC 600 is a package-on-package (PoP)structure. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 is achip-on-wafer-on-substrate (CoWoS®) structure. In some embodiments,composite IC 600 is a fan-out wafer level chip scale package (FO-WLCSP)structure. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 is an integrationFO-WLCSP package on-package (InFO-PoP) structure. In some embodiments,composite IC 600 is a fan-in wafer level chip scale package (FI-WLCSP)structure. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 is anunder-bump-metallization (UBM)-free FI-WLCSP (UPI) structure.

First circuit layer 610 includes an IC chip, wafer, and/or substratewith at least one electrical circuit. In some embodiments, the at leastone electrical circuit is an integrated circuit. In some embodiments,the at least one electrical circuit has only passive elements such asmetal traces, bumps, and through-silicon vias (TSVs).

In some embodiments, first circuit layer 610 is a bottom layer describedabove with respect to FIG. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), or 5(d). In someembodiments, first circuit layer 610 is a substrate. In some embodimentsin which composite IC 600 is a chip on wafer on substrate (CoWoS®)structure, first circuit layer 610 is a wafer on a substrate. In someembodiments in which composite IC 600 is a FO-WLCSP or FI-WLCSPstructure, first circuit layer 610 is a wafer.

In some embodiments, first circuit layer 610 includes a first circuitsub-layer 612. If present, first circuit sub-layer 612 is a circuitcomponent of first circuit layer 610. In some embodiments, first circuitsub-layer 612 is an IC chip of first circuit layer 610. In someembodiments, first circuit sub-layer 612 is an IC chip package of firstcircuit layer 610. In some embodiments, first circuit sub-layer 612 is asubstrate of first circuit layer 610. In some embodiments, first circuitsub-layer 612 is a wafer of first circuit layer 610.

In some embodiments, first circuit layer 610 includes a second circuitsub-layer 614. If present, second circuit sub-layer 614 is a circuitcomponent of first circuit layer 610. In some embodiments, secondcircuit sub-layer 612 is an IC chip of first circuit layer 610. In someembodiments, second circuit sub-layer 612 is an IC chip package of firstcircuit layer 610. In some embodiments, second circuit sub-layer 612 isa substrate of first circuit layer 610. In some embodiments, secondcircuit sub-layer 612 is a wafer of first circuit layer 610. In someembodiments, first circuit layer 610 includes additional sub-layers (notshown).

Second circuit layer 620 includes at least one IC chip 622 or IC chip624. In some embodiments, second circuit layer 620 includes both IC chip622 and IC chip 624. In some embodiments, second circuit layer 620includes both IC chip 622 and IC chip 624 and at least one additional ICchip (not shown). In some embodiments, one or more of IC chips 622 or624 is a chip A, B, C, or D in contact with a bottom layer as describedabove with respect to FIG. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), or 5(d).

In some embodiments, IC chip 622 is an IC chip package of second circuitlayer 620. In some embodiments, IC chip 624 is an IC chip package ofsecond circuit layer 620.

If present, third circuit layer 630 includes at least one IC chip 632 orIC chip 634. In some embodiments, third circuit layer 630 includes bothIC chip 632 and IC chip 634. In some embodiments, third circuit layer630 includes both IC chip 632 and IC chip 634 and at least oneadditional IC chip (not shown). In some embodiments, one or more of ICchips 632 or 634 is a chip A or E separated from a bottom layer byanother chip as described above with respect to FIG. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c),or 5(d).

In some embodiments, IC chip 632 is an IC chip package of third circuitlayer 630. In some embodiments, IC chip 634 is an IC chip package ofthird circuit layer 630. In some embodiments, third circuit layer 630includes multiple sub-layers and each sub-layer includes one or more ICchips 632 and/or 634 as described above with respect to third circuitlayer 630.

In some embodiments, ICs of first circuit layer 610, second circuitlayer 620, and, if present, third circuit layer 630 are resources fromdifferent processes (e.g., N40, N65). In some embodiments, ICs of firstcircuit layer 610, second circuit layer 620, and, if present, thirdcircuit layer 630 are resources from different manufacturers. In someembodiments, ICs of first circuit layer 610, second circuit layer 620,and, if present, third circuit layer 630 are resources that areintegrated based on functionality (e.g., central processing unit (CPU)and graphics processing unit (GPU)) or specified performance levels(e.g., speed and power consumption).

A WPD 640 is a WPT device such as an antenna, capacitor, inductor, orother interface capable of extracting energy from an electromagneticsignal and generating a power supply voltage.

Composite IC 600 includes at least one WPD 640 either in first circuitlayer 610 or in second circuit layer 620, as depicted in FIG. 6. EachWPD 640 is a wireless power device configured to receive and/or transmitdata in accordance with radio-frequency identification (RFID), WiFi,802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee, near-field communication (NFC), or otherwireless standards. In some embodiments, one or more WPD 640 is a WPTdevice as described above with respect to FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes at least one WPD 640 ineach of first circuit layer 610 and second circuit layer 620. In someembodiments, composite IC 600 includes one or more WPDs 640 in thirdlayer 630, if present.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a WPD 640 in firstsub-layer 612. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a WPD 640in first sub-layer 612 and at least one additional WPD 640 in at leastone additional sub-layer of first circuit layer 610 (not shown).

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a WPD 640 in IC chip 622.In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a WPD 640 in IC chip 622and at least one additional WPD 640 in at least one additional IC chip(not shown) of second circuit layer 620.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a WPD 640 in IC chip 632.In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a WPD 640 in IC chip 632and at least one additional WPD 640 in at least one additional IC chip(not shown) of third circuit layer 630.

Composite IC 600 includes at least one tracking circuit 650 either infirst circuit layer 610 or in second circuit layer 620, as depicted inFIG. 6. A tracking circuit is a circuit capable of receiving a powersupply voltage and responding to an instruction extracted from anelectromagnetic signal by storing and/or outputting tracking data.Tracking data are data related to one or more components of thecomposite IC. In some embodiments, tracking data are data related tochip or IC identification, origin, performance, function, or testresults.

In some embodiments, a tracking circuit is configured to be capable ofexecuting a circuit test in response to an instruction extracted from anelectromagnetic signal and to store and/or output test result data astracking data. In some embodiments, a tracking circuit is configured tobe capable of executing a circuit test in response to an instructionextracted from an electromagnetic signal and to store and/or output testresult data indicative of circuit speed or power consumption as trackingdata.

In some embodiments, one or more tracking circuits 650 is a circuitconfigured to extract instructions from electromagnetic signalsconforming to RFID, WiFi, 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee, NFC, or otherwireless standards. In some embodiments, one or more tracking circuits650 is a tag as described above with respect to FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes at least one trackingcircuit 650 in each of first circuit layer 610 and second circuit layer620. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes one or more trackingcircuits 650 in third layer 630, if present.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a tracking circuit 650 insecond sub-layer 614. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes atracking circuit 650 in second sub-layer 614 and at least one additionaltracking circuit 650 in at least one additional sub-layer of firstcircuit layer 610 (not shown).

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a tracking circuit 650 inIC chip 624. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a trackingcircuit 650 in IC chip 624 and at least one additional tracking circuit650 in at least one additional IC chip (not shown) of second circuitlayer 620.

In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a tracking circuit 650 inIC chip 634. In some embodiments, composite IC 600 includes a trackingcircuit 650 in IC chip 634 and at least one additional tracking circuit650 in at least one additional IC chip (not shown) of third circuitlayer 630.

Interconnection structures 660 are sets of interconnection structuresconfigured to provide electrical connections between one or more of WPDs640 and one or more of tracking circuits 650. Interconnection structures660 include conductive elements located on one or more of first circuitlayer 610, second circuit layer 620, and, if present, third circuitlayer 630. Non-limiting examples of conductive elements include metallines, vias, TSVs, UBM structures, bumps, wires, and post-passivationstructures.

In some embodiments, an interconnection structure of interconnectionstructures 660 is configured to provide electrical connections between asingle WPD 640 and a single tracking circuit 650. In some embodiments,an interconnection structure of interconnection structures 660 isconfigured to provide electrical connections between a single WPD 640and multiple tracking circuits 650. In some embodiments, aninterconnection structure of interconnection structures 660 isconfigured to provide electrical connections between multiple WPDs 640and a single tracking circuit 650. In some embodiments, interconnectionstructure of interconnection structures 660 is configured to provideelectrical connections between multiple WPDs 640 and multiple trackingcircuits 650. In some embodiments, interconnection structures 660include an interconnection in a bottom layer as depicted in FIG. 5(a).

In some embodiments, an interconnection structure of interconnectionstructures 660 is configured to provide electrical connections between aWPD and a tracking circuit on a same circuit layer. In some embodiments,an interconnection structure of interconnection structures 660 isconfigured to provide electrical connections between a WPD 640 and atracking circuit 650 on different circuit layers.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a tracking circuit 700, in accordancewith some embodiments. Tracking circuit 700 is usable as a tag describedabove with respect to FIG. 4 and/or as a tracking circuit 650 ofcomposite IC 600 described above with respect to FIG. 6.

Tracking circuit 700 includes front end circuit 710, digital controller750, and non-volatile memory (NVM) 790. Front end circuit 710 includes1/0 port 712, demodulator 720, AC/DC converter 730, and modulator 740.Digital controller 750 includes parser/decoder 760, main control unit770, and encoder/framer 780. Demodulator 720 is configured to provide asignal Data In to parser/decoder 760, and encoder/framer 780 isconfigured to provide a signal Data Out to modulator 740. Trackingcircuit 700 is configured to deliver a DC power signal VDD and apower-on reset signal Reset from AC/DC converter 730 to main controlunit 770. Tracking circuit 700 is further configured to provide two-waycommunication between main control unit 770 and NVM 790.

In some embodiments, front end circuit 710 is an RF/Analog front end asdescribed above with respect to FIG. 4. In some embodiments, digitalcontroller 750 is a digital controller as described above with respectto FIG. 4. In some embodiments, NVM 790 is an NVM as described abovewith respect to FIG. 4.

Front end circuit 710 is a circuit configured to receive anelectromagnetic signal through 1/0 port 712. The electromagnetic signalincludes energy in the form of a power supply voltage or information inthe form of a modulated signal. In some embodiments, front end circuit710 is configured to receive the electromagnetic signal from one or moreWPDs 640 of composite IC 600 described above with respect to FIG. 6.

Front end circuit 710 is further configured to output a modulatedelectromagnetic signal though 1/0 port 712. In some embodiments, frontend circuit 710 is configured to output the modulated electromagneticsignal to one or more WPDs 640 of composite IC 600 described above withrespect to FIG. 6.

Demodulator 720 is a circuit configured to receive and demodulate theelectromagnetic signal and output the demodulated electromagnetic signalas digital signal Data In. In some embodiments, demodulator 720 includesan envelope detector (not shown) configured to demodulate theelectromagnetic signal and output signal Data In or a clock signal (notshown).

AC/DC converter 730 is a circuit configured to generate DC power signalVDD and power-on reset signal Reset based on the electromagnetic signal.In some embodiments, AC/DC converter 730 comprises a charge pump (notshown) configured to rectify the electromagnetic signal or a voltageregulator (not shown) configured to limit and regulate charge pumpoutput to generate DC power signal VDD and power-on reset signal Reset.

Modulator 740 is a circuit configured to receive digital signal Data Outand generate a modulated electromagnetic signal based on signal DataOut.

Parser/decoder 760 is a circuit configured to decode received signalData In and output parsed commands to main control unit 770. In someembodiments, parser/decoder 760 includes separate decoder and parsercircuits (not shown).

Main control unit 770 is a circuit configured to control operations ofdigital controller 750 by receiving DC power VDD and power-on resetsignal Reset, and executing parsed commands to communicate with NVM 790and output replied data to encoder/framer 780. In some embodiments, maincontrol unit 770 includes a power management circuit (not shown)configured to control power consumption. In some embodiments, maincontrol unit 770 includes a main state machine (not shown) configured toprocess and execute the parsed commands and to communicate with NVM 790.

In some embodiments, main control unit 770 is further configured toexecute one or more circuit tests. In some embodiments, main controlunit 770 includes electrical connections (not shown) to one or morecircuits separate from tracking circuit 700 for executing the circuittests. In some embodiments, main control unit 770 is further configuredto power execution of one or more circuit tests using VDD. In someembodiments, main control unit 770 is further configured to execute oneor more circuit tests to measure speed or power consumption.

Encoder/framer 780 is a circuit configured to encode frame data asdigital signal Data Out. In some embodiments, encoder/framer 780includes separate framer and encoder circuits (not shown).

NVM 790 is configured to store and retrieve data used by trackingcircuit 700. In some embodiments, data stored in and retrieved from NVM790 is test result data from one or more tests executed by main controlunit 770.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system 800, inaccordance with some embodiments. Wireless communication system 800includes a composite IC 810 and a wireless communication device 820configured to communicate via an electromagnetic signal 830. In variousembodiments, wireless communication system 800, composite IC 810,wireless communication device 820, and electromagnetic signal 830 areconfigured to communicate based on RFID, WiFi, 802.11, Bluetooth,ZigBee, NFC, or other wireless standards.

Composite IC 810 includes one or more WPDs configured to receive andtransmit wireless signal 830. In some embodiments, composite IC 810 iscomposite IC 600 and the one or more WPDs is one or more WPDs 640 ofcomposite IC 600. In some embodiments, composite IC is a 3DIC stackingdescribed above with respect to FIG. 5(a), 5(b), 5(c), or 5(d).

Wireless communication device 820 is a communication device configuredto communicate wirelessly. In some embodiments, wireless communicationdevice 820 is a wireless tracking device. In some embodiments, wirelesscommunication device 820 is a handy reader described above with respectto FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, wireless communication device 820 is electricallyconnected to one or more storage devices (not shown) and is furtherconfigured to store data retrieved from composite IC 810 viaelectromagnetic signal 830 in the one or more storage devices. In someembodiments, wireless communication device 820 is electrically connectedto one or more storage devices (not shown) and is further configured totransmit data or commands from the one or more storage devices tocomposite IC 810 via electromagnetic signal 830.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method 900 of accessing a semiconductorstructure, in accordance with some embodiments. Method 900 is usable inconjunction with a wireless communication system, e.g., wirelesscommunication system 800. In some embodiments, the semiconductorstructure is a composite IC, e.g., composite IC 600.

Method 900 includes operation 910, in which a WPT device of asemiconductor structure generates a power supply voltage by extractingenergy from an electromagnetic signal. In some embodiments, the WPTdevice is part of a WPD 640 of composite IC 600. In some embodiments,the electromagnetic signal is electromagnetic signal 830 of wirelesscommunication system 800.

Method 900 continues at operation 920, in which the power supply voltageis transmitted from the WPT device to a tracking circuit in a first chipof the semiconductor structure by an interconnection structure of thesemiconductor structure. In some embodiments, the tracking circuit is atracking circuit 650 of composite IC 600. In some embodiments, thetracking circuit is a tracking circuit 700.

In some embodiments, the power supply voltage is transmitted by aninterconnection structure of interconnection structures 660 of compositeIC 600. In some embodiments, the power supply voltage is transmittedfrom a second chip of the semiconductor structure. In some embodiments,the WPT device is in a first circuit layer of the semiconductorstructure, the first chip is in a second circuit layer of thesemiconductor structure, and the power supply voltage is transmittedfrom the first circuit layer of the semiconductor structure to thesecond circuit layer of the semiconductor structure.

Method 900 continues at operation 930, in which the tracking circuit ispowered with the power supply voltage from the WPT device. In someembodiments, the tracking circuit is powered using a front end circuit710 of tracking circuit 700.

Method 900 continues at operation 940, in which the tracking circuitaccesses tracking data of the first chip of the composite IC in responseto an instruction extracted from the electromagnetic signal. In someembodiments, the tracking data are accessed from a memory circuit in thetracking circuit. In some embodiments, the tracking data are accessedfrom an NVM 790.

In some embodiments, the tracking data are data related to chip or ICidentification (ID), origin, performance, function, or test results. Insome embodiments, accessing tracking data includes outputting thetracking data from the tracking circuit to the WPT device. In someembodiments, the tracking circuit accesses tracking data using digitalcontroller 750 of tracking circuit 700.

In some embodiments, method 900 includes operations in addition tooperations 910 through 940 for accessing tracking data. In variousembodiments, additional operations include execution of one or moretests on the semiconductor device in which one or more tracking devicesare located, and storing tracking data including test results of the oneor more tests.

In some embodiments, method 900 continues at operation 950, in which oneor more tests are executed on the semiconductor structure. In someembodiments, executing the one or more tests includes outputting a testresult from the tracking circuit to the WPT device. In some embodiments,at least one of the one or more tests is executed within the chip or ICin which the WPT device is located. In some embodiments, at least one ofthe one or more tests is executed outside the chip or IC in which theWPT device is located and within the semiconductor structure.

In some embodiments, the one or more the tests include determining aspeed of a circuit. In some embodiments, the one or more tests includedetermining a power consumption of a circuit. In some embodiments, thetracking circuit executes the one or more tests using digital controller750 of tracking circuit 700.

In some embodiments, a first test of the one or more tests is performedby a first tracking circuit and a second test of the one or more testsis performed by a second tracking circuit separate from the firsttracking circuit. In some embodiments, the first tracking circuit andthe second tracking circuit are on the first chip. In some embodiments,the first tracking circuit is on the first chip and the second trackingcircuit is on a second chip.

In some embodiments, method 900 continues at operation 960, in which atest result is stored by the tracking circuit. In some embodiments, thetest result is stored in a memory circuit in the tracking circuit. Insome embodiments, the test result is stored in an NVM 790. In someembodiments, the test result is the result of a test prior to executionof method 900. In some embodiments, the test result is the result of atest performed in operation 950 of method 900.

In some embodiments, method 900 includes additional operations in whichaccessed tracking data are used for making decisions related toassembling a semiconductor structure. In various embodiments, accessedtracking data are used for matching characteristics of chips added to asemiconductor structure to characteristics of chips already present inthe semiconductor structure.

In some embodiments, method 900 continues at operation 970, in which asecond chip is selected for the semiconductor structure based on theaccessed tracking data. In various embodiments, the second chip isselected based on the accessed tracking data comprising one or more ofan IC or chip ID, origin, performance, function, or result of one ormore tests. In some embodiments, the second chip is selected based onaccessed tracking data comprising a result of a test performed inoperation 950 of method 900. In some embodiments, the second chip isselected based on accessed tracking data comprising results of more thanone test performed in accordance with operation 950 of method 900.

In some embodiments, the second chip is selected based on circuit speedinformation contained in the accessed tracking data. In someembodiments, the second chip is selected based on circuit powerconsumption information contained in the accessed tracking data. In someembodiments, the second chip is selected based on binning informationcontained in the accessed tracking data.

In some embodiments, the second chip is a chip in a chip package. Insome embodiments, the second chip is a chip of a plurality of chips,each of which is selected based on accessed tracking data.

In some embodiments, a composite IC comprises a first circuit layer, asecond circuit layer comprising a first chip and a second chip, and afirst WPT device in the first chip or the first circuit layer. The firstWPT device is configured to generate a power supply voltage byextracting energy from an electromagnetic signal. A first trackingcircuit in the second chip or the first circuit layer is configured tobe powered by the power supply voltage from the first WPT device and tostore or output tracking data in response to an instruction extractedfrom the electromagnetic signal.

In some embodiments, a method of accessing a composite IC comprisesgenerating, by a WPT device of the composite IC, a power supply voltageby extracting energy from an electromagnetic signal, transmitting thepower supply voltage from the WPT device to a first chip of thecomposite IC, and powering a tracking circuit in the first chip is withthe power supply voltage. The method further comprises accessing, by thetracking circuit, tracking data of the first chip of the composite IC inresponse to an instruction extracted from the electromagnetic signal.

In some embodiments, a method of testing a semiconductor structurecomprises causing a WPT device of the semiconductor structure togenerate a power supply voltage by extracting energy from anelectromagnetic signal and causing, by using a tracking circuit embeddedin a first chip of the semiconductor structure, the semiconductorstructure to execute a test of the semiconductor structure, the testbeing powered by the power supply voltage from the WPT device. The WPTdevice is embedded in a portion of the semiconductor structure otherthan the first chip of the semiconductor structure.

While the disclosure has been described in terms of what are presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosedembodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims, which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures. Therefore, the above description and illustration should notbe taken as limiting the scope of the present disclosure which isdefined by the appended claims.

The foregoing outlines features of several embodiments so that thoseskilled in the art may better understand the aspects of the presentdisclosure. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they mayreadily use the present disclosure as a basis for designing or modifyingother processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/orachieving the same advantages of the embodiments introduced herein.Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure, and that they may make various changes, substitutions, andalterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising: a wirelesspower transfer (WPT) device configured to extract energy from anelectromagnetic signal and provide an output voltage; and a trackingcircuit disposed on a substrate adjacent to the WPT device andconfigured to be powered by the output voltage of the WPT device, thetracking circuit configured to extract an instruction from theelectromagnetic signal of the WPT device.
 2. The integrated circuit ofclaim 1, comprising a first chip electrically connected to the WPTdevice.
 3. The integrated circuit of claim 2, wherein the WPT device andthe first chip are in a same circuit layer.
 4. The integrated circuit ofclaim 2, wherein the WPT device and the tracking circuit are disposed inthe first chip.
 5. The integrated circuit of claim 2, further comprisinga second chip, wherein the tracking circuit is disposed in the secondchip and the WPT device is disposed in the first chip.
 6. The integratedcircuit of claim 2, wherein the first chip is disposed over thesubstrate adjacent to the WPT device, wherein the tracking circuit isdisposed in the first chip.
 7. The integrated circuit of claim 2,further comprising a second tracking circuit configured to be powered bythe output voltage of the WPT device and to access data, and wherein thesecond tracking circuit is disposed in the first chip.
 8. The integratedcircuit of claim 1, wherein the instruction extracted by the trackingcircuit includes at least one of chip identification, circuit speed, andpower consumption.
 9. An integrated circuit (IC) comprising: a wirelesspower transfer (WPT) device configured to convert electromagneticradiation into electrical power; and a chip disposed on a substrateadjacent to the WPT device, the chip comprising a tracking circuitconfigured to be powered by the electrical power of the WPT device, thetracking circuit further configured to extract an instruction from anelectronic signal of the WPT device and perform a function in responseto the instruction.
 10. The integrated circuit of claim 9, wherein thefunction includes reading data stored in the tracking circuit, whereinthe data is selected from the group consisting of chip identification,circuit speed, and power consumption.
 11. The integrated circuit ofclaim 9, wherein the function includes writing data to a memory in thetracking circuit, wherein the data is selected from the group consistingof chip identification, circuit speed, and power consumption.
 12. Theintegrated circuit of claim 9, wherein the function includes performinga circuit test related to a speed of a circuit.
 13. The integratedcircuit of claim 9, wherein the function includes performing a circuittest related to an amount of power consumed by a circuit.
 14. Theintegrated circuit of claim 9, further comprising: a second WPT deviceconfigured to convert electromagnetic radiation into electrical power; asecond chip electrically connected to the second WPT device; and asecond tracking circuit disposed in the second chip, the second trackingcircuit configured to be powered by the electrical power of the secondWPT device and to perform a second function in response to aninstruction included in the electromagnetic radiation.
 15. A methodcomprising: converting, with a wireless power transfer (WPT) device,electromagnetic radiation into electrical power; powering a trackingcircuit adjacent to the WPT device with the electrical power;extracting, with the tracking circuit, an instruction from an electronicsignal of the WPT device; and performing a function in response to theinstruction.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the response to theinstruction is extracted from the electromagnetic radiation.
 17. Themethod of claim 15, wherein performing the function includes determininga speed of the tracking circuit.
 18. The method of claim 15, whereinperforming the function includes determining a power consumption of thetracking circuit.
 19. The method of claim 15, further comprisingselecting a first chip based on the performing of the function.
 20. Themethod of claim 15, further comprising: powering another trackingcircuit in a first chip with the electrical power; and performing asecond function.